SOUTH BOSTON, Va. — The thought of breaking his father’s win record at South Boston Speedway has been in the back of Trevor Ward’s mind for a while now.
He had been stuck on eight victories for several events, but on July 11, he finally broke through with a dominant performance, earning his elusive ninth.
Trevor’s father, Dean Ward, won eight South Boston Late Model Stock Car features in the early 2000s, and has countless wins at other short tracks around the Southeast.
Trevor, a former Virginia Triple Crown champion, is an accomplished racer in his own right, but his father’s South Boston win mark was one he had been thinking about for quite some time.
It was a meaningful milestone for Trevor, but as he strapped into his No. 77 on July 11, it really wasn’t even on his mind.
“We get caught up in racing week after week,” Trevor Ward said, “and I really wasn’t thinking about the record. I was just thinking about trying to win the championship this season, and it all came together that night.”
Trevor Ward admitted he had begun to wonder when or if another win would come this season that would allow him to pass his father. It had been six races since Ward had celebrated his last previous victory.
“It had been a long time coming,” Trevor noted of the July 11 win. “It was like ‘When is that next one going to come?’ because you never know when the next win is going to come.”
Breaking the victory mark was a thrill for both father and son.
“That was a huge accomplishment,” Trevor pointed out. “It was just super awesome to be able to accomplish that. You always want to compete with your dad and be able to top that record. I don’t know the other father-son duos in the South Boston history books, but I know there are a few of them. To be able to come there and replicate your family history … it is very memorable.”
Dean Ward wasn’t at South Boston Speedway on July 11 when his son broke his record. He was fulfilling an obligation competing in a Modified event at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
“I was trying to watch it and keep up with it,” Dean Ward said. “I’m trying to keep up with what is going on with him every second he’s there at South Boston if I’m not there. We’re texting each other the whole night if I’m not there.”
Trevor pointed out that his father texted him after the win saying ‘well, son, now it’s just nine and counting.’
“Obviously he was super proud,” Trevor remarked. “He was basically saying go out there and continue doing what you’re doing and get more wins.”
Dean Ward explained he is proud seeing Trevor break his record.
“I’m super happy about it,” Dean Ward remarked. “I’m more excited for him than I would be if it had been me.
“He told me he hoped he didn’t upset me breaking my record. I said ‘No, son, like I’ve told you before, there are not many men in this field that are going to want you to be better than them except for me. I want you to break my record.’ A true father always wants better for his kids than what he has.”
“We want to grow the wins stat,” he explained, “and be in the Top 20 all-time. If there are a few more wins to come, it will put us in that top tier. There is a lot of great company in there and I’d love to be able to be up there with them.”
This week Trevor’s focus returns to South Boston Speedway for the twin 75-lap Hitachi Energy Late Model Stock Car Division races on Aug. 1. He holds a narrow six-point edge over Landon Pembelton in the chase for the division championship.
“We’ve got our nose to grindstone,” he said. “We’re doing all we can do as far as checking every box, crossing every T and dotting every I. We’re going to continue to do what we do, race each race, and give it the best effort we can.”
